Connection

Joyous, blissful moment, sitting on the porch, you and I
two forms, two faces, yet one soul together, you and I

The groves’ gift, the birds’ songs give us the water of ever
lasting life, when we come to the garden together, you and I

The stars of the night sky witness us
we show them the moon together, you and I

You and I united as one in the ecstasy and delight
cast aside absurd stories and nonsense, you and I

The parrots of the sky eat sugar when we’re
in the veranda, laughing together, you and I

How amazing we’re here this moment in this corner
yet we’re also together in Irâq and Khorâsân, you and I

We’re in one form on the earth and in another in the
everlasting land of honey – the paradise, you and I

    I’ll never forget the day I received my first tattoo in San Francisco; adding to the small collection of prior artwork received in Ohio. While a blog about tattoo work is pending a future release, my love for them has grown as I’ve received more of them – especially matching tattoo’s with loved ones.

   Steve has a tattoo on his left shoulder, representing a broken infinity symbol. I decided to get a matching tattoo on my right shoulder, with a break in a different part of the symbol. The reason for this was so that the gaps covered each other whenever we embrace. A tribute to brotherly love.

   At the time, I didn’t tell him of my plans to get the tattoo. Instead, I showed up to his house and told him I had a surprise to show him. It was a very happy moment to share with him; giving credit to the permanence of the love we share.

   That evening, I was in meditation and found myself in a place without boundaries. It felt as if it were a glowing cloud, full of lightning. I heard voices tell me “We wanted to give you a glimpse of what is to come, because you performed an act of selfless love.” It was…incredible. In that moment, there were no walls, boundaries, or sense of ego. Instead, it was a dimension of pure love, acceptance, and freedom.

   With Valentines Day around the corner, the idea of love and romance is in the air in a powerful way. I’m reminded that love is the highest purpose we can achieve on this plane[t]. To see others as a reflection of yourself, including all of your flaws and darkness, rather than as separate entities that require judgement.

“Compatibility is an achievement of love; it must not be its precondition.”

   I see ‘swipe culture’ as a vehicle which seeks to quickly identify a romantic match, through the process of shallow elimination. Don’t like the way somebody looks? Swipe left.

   What box does this place love in? Into a place where pre-determined conditions must be met in order to give the other person the opportunity for more in-depth elimination.

   Love is patient. It holds space for those around you to express themselves authentically, as well as feel comfortable to resolve their issues and challenges; inviting you to help the process.

   True love doesn’t require religious compatibility (which is really disguised judgement) or similar stature to flow. Instead, it’s the binding force that connects, grows, and kindles recognition between others – thus, yourself.